ABOUT

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Fish Health Services is a diagnostic laboratory servicing Oregon's 34 public fish hatcheries, as well as providing testing for an additional 10-15 private aquaculture facilities and pathogen surveys of wild fish in the state.  We assist ODFW fish culture and fish research and management programs in an effort to reduce the impacts of disease on fish populations.

Located on the Oregon State University campus on the 5th Floor of Nash Hall, we provide support and diagnostic services, including whirling disease testing, DNA, virological, bacteriological, and serological testing plus general fish health screening.  In addition to our Corvallis lab, we also have a lab in Madras and LaGrande at Eastern Oregon University.

Our collaborations with OSU over the past 50 years have resulted in many major advances in the field of fish health.  Our expertise in fish diseases and open exchange of information with OSU faculty and students has been mutually advantageous.  We welcome students into the lab to get a first-hand look at microbiology in action.

STAFF DIRECTORY

CONTACT

ODFW Fish Health Services
516 Nash Hall
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR  97331

Phone:  (541) 737-1863
FAX:  (541) 737-0496

ODFW Fish Health Services
Badgley Hall 217
One University Boulevard
La Grande, OR 97850

Phone:  (541) 962-3823

ODFW Fish Health Services
726 SW Lower Bend Road
Madras, OR  97741

Phone:  (541) 325-5343

SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS
Store all samples on ice or in a refrigerator until
transpsorting or shipping to the lab.  Send within 2 days
of collection: Monday-Wednesday.  Prior to shipping, please
notify the lab at 541-737-1863 or 541-737-1853. 
Place samples in a secondary container (plastic bag, etc.)
in a cooler with plenty of ice (DOUBLE ZIPLOC bag or
use BLUE ICE to prevent leaking) and transport or ship to: →

SHIPPING ADDRESS
ODFW FISH HEALTH
DEPT. OF MICROBIOLOGY
226 NASH HALL
OREGON STATE UNIV.
CORVALLIS, OR 97331

LINKS

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife - Homepage

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife - Diseases and Viruses

OSU John L. Fryer Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory

Fish Pathogens. net

Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures

 

PROGRAMS

FISH IN THE CLASSROOM

ODFW Fish Health Services frequently engages with local elementary schools to educate children in the importance of learning fish anatomy and the salmon life cycle.  As a result, students receive exciting, hands-on experience by dissecting a finerling Chinook salmon or rainbow trout on their own, while learning the function behind important external and internal features of the fish.  Additionally students are able to observe preserved specimens from each stage of a salmonid's life cycle, furthering their understanding of being able to identify animals based on physical characteristics at any point in their life.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION

ODFW Fish Health Services also regularly demonstrates the importance of salmonid anatomy and life cycle outdoor educational overnight camps.  The ODFW Oakridge Outdoor Experience, in conjunction with the United States Forest Service and the Oregon State Police, endeavors to educate and inspire children from local Oakridge and Lowell schools to enjoy what nature has to offer with respect to fish, wildlife, plants, camping, hiking, archery, angling, and much more.  Additionaly, ODFW partners with Siuslaw National Forests, Starker Forests Inc., and several Benton and Linn County schools to implement a Forest Camp at Camp Tadmor which offers a similar experience as Oakridge.